Edwaed jones



(No Model.) E. JONES.

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ELECTRODES EOE SECONDARY BATTERIES. No. 331,408. Patented Dec. 1, 1885.

Ming I m T k Urran Srarns 'l arnnr trier.

EDWARD JONES, OF LEEDS, COUNTY OF YORK, ENGLAND.

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ELECTRODES FOR SECONDARY BATTERIES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,408, dated December 1, 1885.

Application filed July 31, 1885. Serial No. 173,195. (No model.) Patented in England April 7, 1884, No. 6,068; in France October 3, 1884, No, 164,602; in Italy November 30, 1884, No. 17,485, and in Austria January 23, 1885, No. 37,563.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J ONES, of 13 Blenheim Square, Leeds, (late of Westhill Terrace, Chapel Allerton, Leeds,) in the county of York, England, have invented a Method of Manufacturing Electrodes for Secondary Batteries, (for which Ihave obtained British Letters Patent No. 6,068, dated April 7, 1884; a French Brevet d Invention No. 164,602, dated October 3, 1884; an Italian Brevet No. 17,485, dated November 30, 1884, and an Austrian Patent No, 37,563, dated January 28,-1885,) of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an improved method or process of manufacturing metal electrodes for secondary batteries, and more es pecially the interlocking metal electrodes described in my application for Letters Patent in the United States dated December 4, 1884, Serial No. 149,470.

The object of my improved method or process is to enable anumber of separate fine strips or ribbons of metal-such as lead-to be integrally united to a common supporting plate or base, also of metal, and preferably of the same metal or alloy of metal as the strips are composed of. The strips or ribbons are required to be attached or integrally united to the supporting plate or base in parallel or concentric rows, the strips or ribbons in each row touching or very nearly touching one an other, but with a considerable space between the several rows of strips. .The object in View is to provide avery large surface for the exciting-fluid to act on, and the better to at tain this result I use strips of elongated diamond or lozenge shape in cross-section. Now, it is impossible by employing the ordinary and well-known means to cast an electrode of this peculiar form and arrangement, owing to the fineness of the strips of metal, and to the fact that they are most efficient when not united the one to the other, but are each integrally united with the supporting-plate at one end only. By my process I am enabled to integrally unite to a common supporting-plate a number of rows of strips of lead, the strips in each row touching each other, but not being united; and I will now proceed to explain the method or process by which I unite the rows of metal Strips, ribbons, or wires to their re spective bases or plates; It has been found by experiment that if a row of lead strips be suspended {over a mold so that the ends dip into the mold, and molten lead be run into the mold, not only does the molten metal fuse the ends which actually dip or protrude into it, but the heat is so great that a considerable portion of the lead strips above the surface of the molten metal becomes fused and falls into the mold,leaving the strips ununi'ted with the metal in the mold when cool. I'have. found that a practical way of uniting the wires of strips of metallic lead, for instance, with a base or wall of metallic" lead, for the purpose of my invention is to clamp a row or rows of the said wires, ribbons, or strips in a frame between two or more blocks or plates of coldiron or other heat-conducting substance, leaving the extremities of the several wires or strips projecting a short distance from the frame, and just before running the lead which is to be integrally united with these strips or wires into the mold to place the chill-clamping frame and blocks containing the row or rows of strips or wires over a hot mold, and then to admit the molten metal. This will fuse the extremities of the strips or wires until it reaches the chill-surface, when the lead will at once set around the said strips or wires, and when cool will be found to be integrally united thereto.

In Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 I have illustrated one form of castingbox, such as I employ in carrying out my process for integrally uniting the several rows of lead strips to their respective end plates or bases.

A is the frame, preferably of cast-iron, in which the metal strips are clamped preparatory to the casting operation. This frame is grooved vertically at its sides to receive metal plates, which fit loosely within the said grooves. These plates B have flanged tops A, which rest on the side edges of the framefand in that position their I bottom surfaces are flush with the bottom of the frame. 1

O O are clamping-screws.

The strips of lead D are filled or packed into the spaces between the metal plates B with their ends projecting equally therefrom for a distance slightly in excess of the depth of the recess 6 in the mold E. The screws 0 O are IOC then turned, and the several rows of strips are thereby securely clamped between the plates Bin the frame A, ready for the casting operation.

F F are stops or guides on the mold by which the two halves of the casting-box may be rapidly and accurately fitted together.

G is a pin or core for casting the hole in the end or base plate which is to receive the terminal bolt.

The mode of procedure is as follows: The strips D having been fixed in the frame as above described, and the ends of the strips having been lightly smeared over with a mixture of resin andoil, the mold E is heated to a dull red, and the frame is placed thereon with the ends of the strips resting on the bottom of the recess 6. As soon as the ends of the lead strips are melted by contact with the 'hot metal of the mold, which occurs almost immediately, the molten lead which is to form the plate to which the strips are to be united is poured or run into the mold, the whole ofthe ends of the several strips becoming united by fusion with the molten lead or metal contained in the recess. This molten lead becomes fused with the ends of the strips of lead within the mold, but is chilled on reaching the frame A and plates or blocks B, and this chilling effectually prevents the further melting of the strips. When cool, the whole of the strips will be found to be integrally united to a plate of solid metal, and the electrode is then removed from the casting-box.

As will be perceived in carrying out my process, I require a number of strips or ribbons of metal of uniform length and similar section. These I may be able to procure in the market, and if so, they may be availed of for the purpose of my invention; but in general I prefer to form my own strips or ribbons by squirting or drawing some easilyfusible metal-such as metallic leadin a hydraulic press or die into one or more strips or wires of suitable section, and then cutting it or them into lengths. These strips, however provided, Ifix in my chill-casting frame in the manner above explained, and unite to a common supporting plate or base in accordance with my process.

My process for integrally uniting fusible metal strips to a plate or base of similar metal is essentially different from what is known as autogenic soldering, by which I understand the burning together of two pieces of lead, the parts to be united being first made thoroughly clean and bright, held firmly together in the required position, and then melted or fused together by means of a gasjet or other flame and blow-pipe. This brief allusion to the main features of autogenic soldering will be sufficient to show how different are the two processes.

It will be obvious that interlocking electrodes for secondary batteries may be constructed in the manner above described from other metals than lead or from alloys, and I do not therefore limit my process to the manufacture of electrodes from lead, though I prefer to employ that metal, and also that the metal strips may be arranged in concentric curves or circles, as well as in straight lines.

Having now particularly described my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, what I desire to claim is- The method or process of constructing elec trodes for secondary batteries, which consists in uniting strips, ribbons, or wires of metallic lead or lead alloy to a metal backing of similar material by submitting the said strips, ribbons, or wires,held fast by chilling-clamps, to the molten backing metal contained in a mold, whereby the liquefaction or partial liquefaction of the said strips, ribbons, or wires beyond their points of junction with the backing is prevented, substantially as herein described.

EDWVARD JONES.

Witnesses:

JOHN LowE, EDWARD WHITELEY, Both Solicitors Clerks, 25 Park Square, Leeds. 

